By Olga Kharif

Best and Worst iPhone Alternatives

Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone is a lot more than just an iPod music player combined with a phone. But if all you really want or need is a calling device and a music player, there are plenty of options. In recent months, a parade of new music phones has hit the market, all costing far less than the $400 iPhone. And for those who don’t want to switch to AT&T (T), the only U.S. service provider that offers the iPhone, many of these devices are available through other carriers.

As ever, there are a couple of clunkers to avoid, but many of the latest music phones, including models made by LG , Samsung, and Sony Ericsson, stand apart from the crowd in terms of design and innovation. Take a spin through our slide show to see which mobile phones will spin your music best.